Local teens to 'be hungry' for children worldwide

Tuesday

Apr 29, 2008 at 3:15 AMApr 29, 2008 at 5:47 AM

United Baptist Church's BYF Youth Group will once again participate in a nationwide event to bring attention to the causes of poverty and hunger. Among the activities is a fund-raiser taking place today.

Members of the local youth group will be participating in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine — getting a real taste of hunger to help feed and care for children living in extreme poverty around the world. They join half a million teens nationwide aiming to raise more than $12 million to fight world hunger.

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.

Now in its 17th year, World Vision's 30-Hour Famine raises awareness and money to fight hunger both overseas and in the U.S. During the 30 hours, teens will be hungry — the theme for this year's famine — by going without food for 30 hours to experience what the poorest children and families face every day. They will be holding several fundraisers throughout this month and in May with the actual 30-Hour Famine taking place during the last weekend in May.

Last year the youth group raised in excess of $1,600 and is hoping to top that amount this year. The U.S. government matches all donations by four times the amount. The group has already held a cookie sale and its next event will be today at Friendly's Restaurant in Laconia, where between 5-8 p.m. 10 percent of all sales will go directly toward the youth group's cause.

The youth group will have its 1,208-link paper chain with it that signifies the 1,208 children under the age of five who die every hour of every day from hunger, malnutrition and disease. Organizers are asking those who donate to come and sign a link of the chain and help break the chain of hunger. The group will also be selling handmade bracelets in blue, green and orange which represents blue for clean water, green for planting of more crops and orange for awareness.

Those with questions regarding the 30-Hour Famine or who wish to donate to the cause are asked to contact Linda Bentley, the youth director at the United Baptist Church in Lakeport, at 524-8775.

Additional information about the 30 Hour Famine can be found online at www.30hourfamine.org.